# C_2021035EN.01001701.xml

| 1.2.2021 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 35/17 |
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1.2.2021

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 35/17

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Judgment of the Court (Eighth Chamber) of 25 November 2020 (request for a preliminary ruling from the Okresný súd Košice I — Slovakia) — NI, OJ, PK v Sociálna poisťovňa

(Case C-799/19) (1)

(Reference for a preliminary ruling - Social policy - Directive 2008/94/EC - Articles 2 and 3 - Protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer - Concepts of ‘employees’ outstanding claims’ and ‘insolvency of an employer’ - Accident at work - Death of the employee - Compensation for non-material damage - Recovery of the claim against the employer - Impossible - Guarantee institution)

(2021/C 35/22)

Language of the case: Slovak

Referring court

Okresný súd Košice I

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicants: NI, OJ, PK

Defendant: Sociálna poisťovňa

Operative part of the judgment

| 1. | Article 2(1) of Directive 2008/94/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2008 on the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer must be interpreted as meaning that an employer cannot be deemed to be in a ‘state of insolvency’ where an action for enforcement has been brought against that employer in connection with a judicially recognised claim for compensation, but the claim is deemed irrecoverable in the enforcement proceedings on account of that employer’s informal insolvency. It is, however, for the referring court to ascertain whether, in accordance with Article 2(4) of Directive 2008/94, the Member State concerned has decided to extend employee protection as provided for under that directive to such a situation of insolvency, established by proceedings which are different from those mentioned in Article 2(1) and which are provided for under national law; |
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1.

Article 2(1) of Directive 2008/94/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2008 on the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer must be interpreted as meaning that an employer cannot be deemed to be in a ‘state of insolvency’ where an action for enforcement has been brought against that employer in connection with a judicially recognised claim for compensation, but the claim is deemed irrecoverable in the enforcement proceedings on account of that employer’s informal insolvency. It is, however, for the referring court to ascertain whether, in accordance with Article 2(4) of Directive 2008/94, the Member State concerned has decided to extend employee protection as provided for under that directive to such a situation of insolvency, established by proceedings which are different from those mentioned in Article 2(1) and which are provided for under national law;

| 2. | Article 1(1) and Article 3 of Directive 2008/94 must be interpreted as meaning that compensation due from an employer to surviving close relatives for non-material damage suffered as a result of the death of an employee caused by an accident at work may only be regarded as constituting ‘employees’ claims arising from contracts of employment or employment relationships’ within the meaning of Article 1(1) of that directive where it is covered by the concept of ‘pay’ as defined under national law, that being a matter for the national court to determine. |
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2.

Article 1(1) and Article 3 of Directive 2008/94 must be interpreted as meaning that compensation due from an employer to surviving close relatives for non-material damage suffered as a result of the death of an employee caused by an accident at work may only be regarded as constituting ‘employees’ claims arising from contracts of employment or employment relationships’ within the meaning of Article 1(1) of that directive where it is covered by the concept of ‘pay’ as defined under national law, that being a matter for the national court to determine.

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(1)  OJ C 19, 20.1.2020.

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